Transfer 2; Week 1; Cover Zone

Ni How !

I know it's been ages since you heard from me last. A whole three days. Transfers are CRAZY, everyone is going everywhere and no one knows exactly what is going on. One Zone (one I affectionately call the 'New North') was created yesterday because there are so many people on Temple Square still. Usually by now there are fewer people, but it's almost as busy as the middle of summer when I first came here. My assignment to cover is the Beehive House, which will be interesting because I do not have any historical information for the House and we're going to be assigned there for 9 hours tomorrow. I hope that my old companion Sister Inoue can give me that script before tomorrow afternoon, because I don't want to be a mute guide for the historical tours at the house. I'll take a picture of the house because I know that my family at least has never seen the inside of the Beehive house.

My new companion Sister Newman is pretty cool, she's a social butterfly and loves to explore new places. Dinner and Lunch are an hour long so sometimes we'll finish early and explore places that I haven't really been before (Like trying to find the new trees that have lights on them). She is also a fan of Motor coaches, we've only been together for 2.5 days and we've already given two. However, she also pretty amazing at them, we keep on getting referrals right and left. We talked to a wonderful Californian Engineer and he had moved to the states from India. He was so much fun to talk to, and his Computer Engineering friend who didn't say much, just pushed his friend around and nodded referred! Apparently something at Temple Square computed.

It's interesting to be with Sister Newman because I get to meet so many different sisters. She is very big on making sure that we evaluate after every tour, which is nice because then we are able to improve faster. Speeding up the improvement process is good for me because I still need to work on my social skills a little more. And I tend to accidentally wade into deep waters with teaching people ...AKA I'll answer all their questions so they just want to research things on their own instead of having other missionaries in their area who can help them come closer to Christ.

Love ya!
Sister Pielstick

Transfer 1; Week 6, North Zone

Mungu anakupenda! (Swahili)

From my friend, Sister Amuli from Kenya. There are a lot of people from everywhere on the Square. We've talked to people from Australia, and a sweet couple from British Columbia who wanted to know how one joined our church and why someone would change their lifestyle to join our church. We've met a bunch of really awesome members from Utah... too bad they don't have many chances to meet people outside the church. We need to befriend everyone, even if it is hard to see them on a regular basis. Sometimes it is just one nice thing built upon another that brings people closer to Christ. There was one lady who brought her exchange students here and she mentioned that people in Utah were so nice that if they found out that she missed having time to make chocolate cake she'd find one on her doorstep the next week.

Sometimes things are hard to do, like giving a tour to 30 people from the Netherlands. They are sweet people, but I do not speak Dutch, and they didn't speak much English... but they seemed to like the buildings. And one lady had a son who does the same thing that Dad does, but since we didn't speak much of each other's language we didn't get much more than that understood. But it was scary and fun at the same time. Temple Square is slowing down a bit so we get to go on the Square at 10 instead of 9, which means we get full uninterrupted study time! I am so excited to actually delve into more things that will help me teach more effectively because the shortened study time meant that I go to study the assignments for zone conference, mission conference, and district meeting and had no time for my own personal questions I needed to find answers for.

Yesterday was transfer conference, when we find out our new assignments. Transfer conference is the most unusual experience I have had on the mission. Imagine 200 girls sitting together and the mission president announcing the new companionships and the outbound sisters. There are 26 people going out! That is pretty insane, they're going all over the place: Georgia (Birmingham), Washington (Spokane), Virginia (Washington DC), Minnesota, Florida (Ft Lauderdale), and obviously many other places. No one to Alaska this time of year, thank heavens... it would be dark and freezing the entire time they were out serving. Then they announced the new leaders... which was sad for me because Sister Inoue is now a Zone leader, which means that I can't be her companion anymore. My new Zone is called Cover, which means that I can go anywhere on Temple Square... even maybe welfare square or the Humanitarian Center. My new companion is Sister Newman, who I don't know very well... but she is from the US and she tackle-hugged me yesterday, so she must be pretty nice. *this means P-day is now Friday--TWO P-days this week!!! SWEET!*

I also took my first tour of the Beehive house with one of the departing sisters, Sister Santana from Brazil. Sister Santana taught me so much about how to work with incorporating meaning to the tours, because it is impossible to properly teach about the history of the pioneers without explaining a little about the beliefs that they held close to their heart. I've been a bit of a fact machine, which is good, but doesn't make people remember their time here. Dates will fade, feelings will not. Everyone works here so different, each according to her own personality. Having different people makes life interesting here. And apparently Chocolate and gummy candies are the cure for when people are sad that they didn't get to go outbound, or that they've lost their friends as they go home to far away countries like Pakistan. I am sad that some of my friends are leaving...because I wanted so much to be companions with them. I guess I'll just settle for visiting them when I am done with the mission.

Love ya!
Sister Pielstick

Transfer 1; Week 5; North Zone

Alofa atuki'e otua! (Tongan)

This week has been busy and colder than usual. I've been begging sweaters from the sisters who are leaving this transfer because it gets cold in a skirt and a shirt. There were a lot of people that came to Temple square on Saturday and Sunday, but Monday there were not very many so we got to do service in the temple (aka deep cleaning some of the rooms). Mostly my companion and I did locker rooms and lots and lots of hallways, but we got to clean the glass in the waiting area too. That Temple is probably the most beautiful building I have ever been in. You can see the pioneer work everywhere.

There were a couple of fun miracles this week, and I love Singapore businessmen. We met one man who buys and sells pianos around the world and he was visiting with a member friend from Utah. His friend said that he wanted to be baptized (which oddly enough happens all the time) then we just laughed it off until the man asked us where he could be baptized right then and there. He said that he was tired of his church changing so he wanted to join one that wasn't changing. We obviously couldn't baptize him here (they removed the Font in the Tabernacle, and the reflection pool is too shallow to immerse anyone) so we told him that missionaries in Singapore could come and bring him a book of Mormon. He wouldn't give us his information until we assured him that the missionaries would be happy to baptize him and his family in Singapore. Apparently this doesn't happen every day because the Chinese sisters were so excited (as well as many others). I also like Romanian carpenters because we met one gentleman who asked us how he could get the Book of Mormon while we were letting him into the Tabernacle. He was such a fun man, apparently he got interested as he went around building Mormon churches around the States so that was pretty awesome.

Also I have at last purchased my own copy of PMG in French, so now I can learn some more. There are so many amazing people, I just wish that I could say good morning to all of them in their own language. I am learning how to hold my own in a conversation in Japanese... aka ask people where they are from and what their names are. I am not the best, but the other sisters from Japan understand me and the Guests just smile and nod (and some answer, but I can't follow that fast..eep!). I'll get it eventually. Next P-day I'll know where I am going to be for the next 6 weeks as well as who I am going to be with. I hope I get to stick with Sister Inoue, but new people would be funtastic as well.

Love ya!
Sister Pielstick

Transfer 1; Week 4; North Zone

Bog vas ljubi! (Slovenian)

Hello again and welcome to my letters. For those of you first joining us I will restate two things. 1) I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and 2) Temple Square is the most unusual mission in the entire world. First and foremost this week is that I wish that I spoke Hungarian. I have met so many people from Budapest this week that are so sweet and amazing that it makes me sad that there is a language barrier, at least we got them to understand that they could listen to the organ because music is the same language wherever you go, thank heavens. (I've also met many French speakers, but my miscommunication with them is my own fault so I can't be sad about that)

This week was a week of fun and interesting experiences. I love the curiosity of children (especially those who applaud after hearing the apostles speak on the kiosks, those who make stories about their stuffed animals and tell me about them, and those who sing about taco pie at the top of their lungs in the tabernacle). They make our jobs as missionaries so easy, because they recognize the good feeling there so much faster than their parents (one girl asked if she could have her birthday party at Temple Square) and they are inspired to press buttons that answer their parent's questions. It's pretty much amazing. I also love learning more about new religions... even if it means that I make mistakes when talking to them. I wish that I had learned more about religions all around the world and the US before I went, because it is good to know more about the world you live in. I am so glad that I went to the Vatican before I went here though, because people compare Temple Square to it often.

We also got to take a tour of the Beehive House, which is pretty amazing because there are so many old books there. There is almost an entire wall there full of books. If the Church ever wants to sell the book cases there I would gladly take them (and the books too, they have so many good ones) because I want to have lots of books (Imagine the library in Beauty and the Beast and that's pretty much how many books I'd like. But that building is full of so much history I don't know how it could all be fit into one small house.

This mission is definitely growing on me, although I will admit that it is nice to watch the quail chicks on Temple Square grow up and follow their mothers everywhere, and it does help that we get to see so many different people every day. I can't wait to see who I will meet the next day and where they are from. I am now keeping a list of all of the countries and states that I've met people from (and their names of course) so I don't forget them. (they get to take a picture to remember me by, I just have to write down their names and hope the face comes to mind when I read it.

Transfer 1: Week 3; North Zone

Bonjour!

That is 'good morning' in French, because my companion and I announced Sunday (you know the sisters with the language signs in the ensign, yup, that was us on Sunday) Admittedly I just stood in the background and watched, but it was still a lot of fun. I think that when I get back from my mission that I want to learn either Chinese or Hindi because they sound so awesome. Chinese is such a brisk language, the pronounciation is so sharp that you feel like their tounge is cutting the roof of their mouth.

This week was rather interesting because we are going through fleet training, where they are teaching us about how to drive mission cars. I know that I went through all the trouble of getting my driving record, but after reading all of the rules and regulations I feel like maybe not driving would be a good idea. The movies for the training are very old, so sometimes it can be really funny. (OK not sometimes, all the time) But the cars are how we go shopping and to other places. Did I mention that I love going to the Asian market, the feel of the place just makes you want to stay there all "P"-day (Preparation day). And oriental food is pretty amazing.

This week also brought changes, so many sister missionaries are now wearing patterns. There are flowers, checks, plaids, lace, everything that you could think of. The sisters are loving the new missionary dress code. Although, my companion and I have decided that instead of going shopping for new clothes we are going to the Planetarium. (I am so terribly sad about this ;)

We also have been able to meet a lot of neat people- even some I already know :). Recently I have also been meeting plenty of Navy folks, when I mention Grandpa Pielstick they give me a little nod of respect. Apparently Navy pilots are a very respected branch in the Military, even some of the Army guys were impressed. They are so much fun to talk to, and they have a different perspective on life, but they love the organization of the church and how it doesn't change over time because of the way the organization is set up.

I've also met some French folks who chided me for not keeping up my language. I guess I'd better work on it, I'll practice with the sisters from Tahiti and France to improve my French. Hopefully it returns, I've taken to reading some scriptures in French to force me to practice my vocabulary.

A favorite this week was a little girl named Emma, her parents are descendants from Taiwan and America and I believe that she was the cutest, most well-behaved 4 month old that I've met on Temple Square. Aside from a slight preoccupation with consuming her child carrier, she enjoyed looking at everything. She loved the pamphlets that we gave her parents and giggled and smiled until we had to go. Her parents are only going to speak Chinese so that she can learn her heritage language. I wish I had a heritage language to teach my children. I guess it'll have to be 'science' or maybe 'mathematics' because I don't know any foreign languages fluently.

Hope you enjoy.

Sister Pielstick

Transfer 1:Week 2; North Zone

God Love you! (English if you couldn't tell)

This last week has been interesting, but I will start with an amazing story. We met this young adult at Temple Square, who was just looking so happy we had to ask him why. Apparently you just exude happiness when it's the first time you've returned to church in over ten years. He is amazing, you could just feel the change in his countenance... he was so happy that when we took him to see the Christus he just stood there speechless for a while, then said '"How could anyone come here and not feel anything?". When he saw the Welfare Square exhibit he wanted to find out how to become a humanitarian missionary or to just help others in his free time. He's been to devotionals and he can't wait until he gets to go to church again. All of this because a girl asked him to go to church with her. I wish that I could write a letter to her telling her how great everything has become, how much light is in his eyes because of her invitation. Anyone can change, I just hope that his parents believe him soon, they are really skeptical of his change of heart. It was pretty amazing, he said he's going to come back to temple square to show off his spiffy new church clothes.

I saw the Marshes yesterday. It was rather random, but we said hey (and accidently stole them from the sisters they were talking to, whoops). I keep on running into people from Florida or Cincinnati, it amuses me. Oh and I met a family from Milan, but they didn't speak English and I didn't speak Italian so we sort of mimed to each other to get their questions answered... I hope we get Italian, Czech, and Polish sisters next transfer so we can communicate with the people who come here. But all in all it's pretty cool, even if the temperature is pretty hot.

The organ recitals are my favorite part of the week. I got to meet Clay Christansen, Grandma Pielstick would have been jealous. He was so nice. I got to hear so many amazing pieces, I wish that I could name them all, but I am always sad when people leave early because the best pieces are always the last. Sunday's performance had Flight of the Valkyries, I felt like I was almost plastered to the wall for that one. So, the music is pretty much amazing.

I've passed off on tours so now I can give tours to the 40 or more sized tours. Yeah, sometimes I wish I hadn't but they need all the help they can get. Next week they've planned for me to give a huge tour, and I am more than a little nervous. Oh well, I have to do it sometime, and it's better to learn in the first transfer. Hopefully it will be a Japanese tour so I don't have to say much... all I can do is introduce myself and say where I'm from so far. But Sister Inoue is going to try and have me be able to give my testimony in Japanese before I finish being her companion. So maybe I'll learn a bit of a new language.

Love ya
Sister Pielstick

Out of the MTC and onto Temple Square :)

kami sama wa aishiteiruyo!

God Loves you in Japanese, Mainly because my new companion Sister Inoue is from Japan/ Hawaii. She is really nice and very diligent, appearance wise she looks almost exactly like Mulan. She loves talking to everyone, but especially the children because before she was on her mission she taught Nursery. She also studied at BYU before coming on her mission.

I am in the North Zone, which means that I am in the building with the Christus and the Jerusalem Map. We also have the Tabernacle and the Conference Center in my area... which is pretty big because some zones only have one or two rooms as their assignments.

I have met many different people so far, especially since I have only been here a week. I have met many people from Japan and Taiwan visiting as well as many people from the Netherlands, even a family from Israel. The German sisters have officially decided that Pielstick is indeed German and that we have been mispronouncing it for ages... they say it more like peel-stoich than Peel Stick, so that was pretty interesting. I have not passed off tour giving, but I have learned most of the historical information for my area (did you know that the Christus has a twin that was used in the World's Fair?) The information is all very interesting from the hand painted benches to the scale model of the temple, but the hardest part is trying to tie everything back to our basic beliefs, because it is our basic beliefs that brought the Pioneers to this place, and caused them to create these beautiful buildings.

I like showing people Temple Square on tours most of all because you get to know people on a better basis. Yesterday I got to talk to a family that asked if they could sing in the tabernacle to test out the acoustics and they bust out into a four part harmony of one of the old chorales you often hear in the Catholic Cathedrals... I thought that was amazing, even if they didn't want us to show them around temple square (Which was sad because I would have loved to get to know them better). Music seems to have followed me out here as well because I am in charge of closing and opening the Tabernacle for the musical performances... which means of course that I have to listen to them:)

There is one unfortunate thing about being on temple square and that is my body's fault. I was practicing to be able to give the acoustical demonstration in the tabernacle and the day I planned to pass it off I lost my voice, so I get to add my input via whispering right now... I hope that i regain my voice sometime soon. I am not happy that as soon as I started to feel comfortable talking to people that I lost the ability to do so properly. But hopefully I'll be able to make a difference regardless.

They also love to have language tours here, but I talked to some Parisian people today and realized how much I had really lost in my speaking vocabulary... hopefully I am able to regain my French so I can guide people around temple square in French.

Love you all,
Sister Pielstick